All Categories

Recycled or bamboo toilet paper

10/9/2026

Look for toilet paper made from recycled content or bamboo. Though the U.S. marketplace shows signs of shifting, it still depends heavily on critical forests.

Most of the widely available toilet paper brands rely on wood pulp from centuries-old trees chopped down in places like the boreal forest of Canada. Good news is that consumers have contributed to measurable progress. Look for products made from recycled content or bamboo and check your favorite brand on this scorecard.

Read more from NRDC.

Plant-based sponges

10/3/2026

Plant-based sponges are now widely available, even some of the bright pink rectangular kind. It’s easy to avoid ones made of plastic.

Most sponges on the market are currently made of plastic but recently I discovered at Target, on the back of a package of bright pink Scotch-Brite sponges, the words “made of 100% plant-based fibers.” In addition to being safer, plant-based sponges last longer, reduce bacterial growth and odor, and are fully compostable.

Read more here:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260601025356.htm
https://zerowastestore.com/blogs/sustainable-living/reasons-to-switch-to-biodegradable-kitchen-sponges

Shift electricity use to non-peak hours

9/11/2026

Shift your heavy use of electricity, such as running washing machines or charging EV vehicles, to overnight hours when there is less demand.

Electricity use generally peaks in the morning and afternoon during the hours of 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM during the week. This puts pressure on the energy grid during this time of day – providing sufficient energy during high-demand hours is expensive for electricity producers. The lowest use is between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM every day. Shifting some of your electricity use to off-peak hours reduces demand during peak hours, saving the provider money that can be passed on to you.
Set the timer on your appliances such as dishwasher and clothes washer to delay their start until later in the evening. Use the dryer and charge electric vehicles during off-peak hours. Unplug idle electronics during peak hours. If your water heater has a time, set it to operate outside of peak periods. You can even save money by enrolling in PECO’s Time-of-Use pricing . Using this program, you pay a lower rate for energy used during non-peak times of day.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Volunteer to support nature

9/4/2026

Be a nature ally: volunteer for organizations that protect wildlife or for work party events to clean up or replant local areas.

Use your power as a volunteer to support organizations that protect the environment. Much of the work done by these organizations depends on volunteers. National organizations such as the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Audubon Society hold events or need people to provide both indoor and outdoor help. Some activities can even be done from home. Tasks range from pulling weeds and planting trees, leading a walk, or maintaining trails to participating in education, writing letters or attending meetings to support particular issues, political advocacy and lobbying, or social media. Volunteer to support the political campaign of candidates who support the environment. There are plenty of local opportunities right here in Swarthmore: help clean up the environment by attending Free the Trees events, clean up events at Little Crum Creek park, and planting native plants in the native plant garden in Umoja park. Events are announced in the Swarthmorean or contact the Swarthmore EAC for more information. In nearby areas, the Community Canopy Project based in Montgomery County needs volunteers to help plant native plants and remove invasives in various locations in the Delaware Valley.

Photo: Planting in Umoja Park, Swarthmore by Shirley Dodson

Cool food before refrigerating

8/28/2026

Save electricity by letting hot food cool before putting it in the fridge so your fridge doesn’t have to work extra hard.

Refrigerators account for a large portion of overall household energy consumption. Before storing your leftovers or pre-cooked food to eat later in the fridge, let it cool down to close to room temperature before putting it in the fridge. This reduces the heat load inside the fridge so it doesn’t have to work as hard, saving energy and money. It also protects food already in the fridge or freezer from being warmed by the addition of hot food raising the temperature. Dividing food such as soup into smaller portions helps it cool faster.

Read more detail here.

Plant an oak tree

8/21/2026

If you can do one thing for wildlife in your yard, plant an oak tree.

Of all our native tree species, oaks offer the greatest support for birds and other wildlife. Planting an oak is a great first step toward making your yard more wildlife friendly. Oaks are host to the growing caterpillars of 519 different species of butterflies and moths, which is by far the greatest number supported by any other tree in our area. There are 16 different oak species to choose from, so you can find one that is appropriate for the particular conditions in your yard. Oak trees are slow growing but do reach a large size, so plant it away from your house and give it space to grow. There are a couple of species that do not grow as tall, including the dwarf Chinquapin oak. To give your new tree the best start, it is best to plant it in the fall. Protect the new tree with a fence until it grows tall enough to escape deer browsing, then add protection for the bark protection from male deer using it to rub their antlers. Water your tree for two years to help it get established. Most of all, tolerate the chewing by insects – the caterpillars eating the leaves will be bird food! The tree won’t be harmed, and leaves are renewed each year. Then enjoy the beauty of the tree throughout the seasons and the birds that visit it!

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Properly dispose of nail polish

8/14/2026

Nail polish counts as hazardous waste, so don’t throw it in the trash or pour it down a drain.

Nail polish contains solvents, plasticizers, and resins that are considered household hazardous waste, just like oil-based paints and pesticides.

Read more at earth911.com
Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Microfiber cloths shed plastic

8/7/2026

Microfiber cleaning cloths are made from plastic. Cotton, linen, and hemp are good alternatives that don’t contribute to microplastic pollution.

If you already have microfiber cloths, use them up. Make more cleaning cloths out of old cotton tee shirts and such—when those are too ratty, they can be composted.

Read more at wellnessmama.com

Toxic chemicals in old toys

7/31/2026

Throw out any plastic toys manufactured before 2009, the year phthalate chemicals were banned.
In 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) went into effect. Before that, the U.S. didn’t restrict phthalate chemicals or heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, in consumer products, including toys.

Read more at momscleanairforce.org

Protect your skin with sunscreen

7/10/2026

Viral TikTok tanning trends, including “base tans,” “sun contouring,” and “sun tattoos,” are misguided and dangerous.
Some recent TikTok trends are discouraging people from using sunscreen. Here are five viral sunscreen trends, the myths behind them, and how to stay safe from their potentially harmful effects.

Read more from Environmental Working Group.

<<Previous

Categories

Archives